Nas and Damian Marley, two artists at the top of their respective games, have joined forces to create a fascinating new project they’ve dubbed ‘Distant Relatives’. Combining elements of rap, reggae and afrobeat with the slickest studio production this side of The Victoria Falls, the artists aim to explore their common African ancestry through the medium of song.
“In a sense I didn’t want it to sound like something that would be typical of me, neither typical of Nas, but something where you can still see there’s a middle ground in the music” says Marley of the project.
Nas adds that “there’s so much propaganda out there that divides us, keeps us divided, and I think this, Distant Relatives, cuts through all of that… and goes right to the point. Distant Relatives, that what we are, you know?”
Below is a surprisingly detailed ‘making of’ trailer for the project, exploring the way the two bounce off of each other in the studio to produce some really compelling collaborative work. Oliver Stone makes a surprise appearance as he joined the pair in studio to offer his insight. Additional commentary is provided by Busta Rhymes, Ethiopian Hip-Hop sensation K’Naan, & the prolific poet Saul Williams.
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You can listen to the first single off the record, ‘As We Enter’ here. For PC users, there’s also a link to a smoother stream here.
